When I first started as an Administrator on the Cause that speaks loudest to me, Keep The Arts In Public Schools,  I didn't know the first thing about organized giving.

I contributed a big chunk of change and then I learned about how to leverage it. Since then, I've spoken with people at foundations who have both good and bad things to say about setting unreasonable goals and creating matching grants.

We're SO fortunate in our Cause because there is no amount of giving or striving that hinders the benefit we provide for our benefactor. Just because we are lucky, doesn't mean everyone will be, so please apply the following experience I share with a bit of perspective on how it can truly serve you.

Before I was an administrator of my Cause I wanted to organize what I called A Day of Giving. Mostly because I was interested in generating a result with the Cause to make other people take notice. We were brand new into a new administration and I could tell the national thermometer was still taking the temperature.

Obviously at the moment we're resolving the Healthcare component of society, and once that reform is complete, I assert that Education Reform is next in the proverbial feast before us.

Organizing a Day of Giving without communication access to the Membership was super challenging. I reached out to all the Hall of Famers in the Cause and asked them to use the "email your friends in the cause" feature.

Little did I know it wasn't working, but that just motivated these wonderful people to get the word out even more.

Since having the opportunity to serve as Administrator I've set two major goals. We've passed both of them and at the moment we don't have one set. I've been clear on my personal goal, and so I always set our Cause goal much higher. Doing so has helped drive both targets even higher.

Focusing people's attention on giving also focuses them on the results their giving supports. You'll be amazed how engaged your membership is when they've got a little "skin in the game."

Using the "Start a Cause Goal" window in the Cause, you get to set the amount, the date to achieve it, the Title of the goal, and include an e-mail to the Cause about why the goal is being set.

The most powerful way to use this tool is to ask people in advance what moves and inspires them to give the most. Once you have that information, incorporate it into the Goal. They'll be engaged and know that you are paying attention.

It's simple and powerful. I highly recommend it.